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Politics & Government

Hurricane Season is Here

NOAA forecasts an active season

Wednesday marked the start of Florida's six-month hurricane season.

With NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center forecasting an active season in the Atlantic Basin, it's important to be ready.

“We need to be prepared, especially with this above-normal outlook,” said Jane Lubchenco, NOAA administrator and Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

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The Saffir -Simpson scale classifies hurricanes by category. While anything above a Category III storm should be considered dangerous, Florida residents should know that even tropical storms are cause for concern. The list below explains the hurricane classification system:

  • Cat I - 74 to 95 mph winds, storm, surge of 4 to 5 feet
  • Cat. II - 96 to 110 mph winds, Storm surge of 6 to 8 feet
  • Cat. III- 111to 130 mph winds, storm surge of 9 to 12 feet
  • Cat. IV- 131 to 155 mph winds Storm surge of 13 to 18 feet
  • Cat. V-  Greater than 155 mph winds, storm surge above 18 feet 

In recent weeks, events focused on preparation were offered throughout the county. On May 21, the fourth annual Hurricane Expo at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), attracted nearly 3,000 attendees. The museum partnered with the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County, to present a wide range of products and information.

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Bob Nixon, of the Tampa Bay Builders and Remodelers Council, offered information to homeowners dealing with issues involving unlicensed contractors. He said homeowners should be especially careful when making hurricane preparations.

 “They’re out there working without certification, permits and inspections,” he said. “That means there will be no recourse for a homeowner if there is a problem down the line.”  

Nixon offered these tips:

  • Never make a payment before a job starts. A contractor shouldn't ask for money upfront.
  • Insist your contractor gets proper permits and inspections.

He also said that if there is a future issue with an improperly attached roof, house addition, or hurricane tie-downs, having those items will save a lot of hassle and cost.

Angela Baird, of the Medical Reserve Corps of Hillsborough County, was also on hand at MOSI.

“We’re trying to remind citizens that preparation is their responsibility,” she said.

Baird urged people to think about the big picture and determine what they think they might need during a storm, potential damage and where shelters are located.

 “An evacuation decree means it’s really time to go,” she said. “Don’t get too complacent.”

Patch gathered additional tips from the expo at MOSI.

If a hurricane strikes:

  • Turn off and unplug electrical appliances, including computers and phones
  • When power is restored, turn appliances back on, one-by-one
  • Turn off the power at the circuit breaker, before you lose power
  • Keep cell phones charged, have extra batteries, and have a car charger available
  • Keep cash on hand, in case electrical outages impact ATM machines

It’s also a good idea to make copies of documents, which should be secured in a watertight container. Some of the documents you'll want to have:

  • Birth certificates
  • Car registration and title
  • Medical/dental insurance cards
  • Copies of credit card data
  • Power of attorney and related paperwork
  • Passports
  • Property tax forms
  • Insurance policies
  • Recent pay stubs (in case you need unemployment benefits)
  • Social security cards
  • Recent tax returns
  • Wills
  • Irreplaceable family photos

Veterans can file a copy of their DD-214 forms with Hillsborough County. Call 813-975-2181 for more information. If you have a safety deposit box, be sure to have the key and your bank account information on hand.

Experts also recommend you take digital photos of your home, cars and valuables, for any future insurance claims. Other tips include:

  • Preparation of a disaster kit including flashlights, extra batteries, non-perishable food, at least one gallon of water, per person, per day, for up to seven days, medication for seven days, manual can opener, wrench to shut off utilities and disposable grill for cooking
  • Development of a family plan (including shutting off utilities/ storing potable water)
  • Safeguarding property (anchoring loose items, reinforcing garage doors, roofs)
  • Staying informed (have a battery-operated or solar radio on hand); you can also sign up to receive for emergency updates at www.noaa.gov
  • Preparing your family by developing a point of contact that lives out of state
  • Using posted resources to help children understand disaster preparation

Evacuation zones:

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